HANKINSON PROVINCE, HANKINSON, ND, USA

We Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen in Hankinson, North Dakota, USA, make up the North American province of the Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen,in Bavaria, Germany, an international congregation that has existed as an active religious community of Sisters in the Church since 1241. We currently serve from six convents in the Diocese of Fargo.25 Members*****************************************************************************The other Provinces of our 800 member congregation are:

MARIA MEDINGEN PROVINCE, DILLINGEN, GERMANY

Main apostolates: health care and education. This province was established in 1973 from out of the original German province, which dates back to the year 1241. It has the distinction of having within its borders and jurisdiction our original Motherhouse, the very home and heart of our heritage as Dillingen Franciscans. Its provincial house is a formerDominican cloister in which our Sisters have lived since 1843.275 Sisters TO THEIR WEBSITE

REGENS-WAGNER PROVINCE, DILLINGEN, GERMANY

Main apostolates: service of the handicapped. Also established in 1973, and also part of the original German province, this province was formed from the special apostolate of the Dillingen Franciscans to the handicapped. Since the 1850's our Sisters have been working and living with special needs persons. Today this province includes 10 large institutes educating and housing over 5000 handicapped persons and having 3500 lay employees.

BAMBERG PROVINCE, BAMBERG, GERMANY

Main apostolates: education, care of the elderly, children's homes, and family retreats. This Province was also established in 1973, and is part of the original German province. The Sisters in this province are very concerned for the strengthening of the family so as to strengthen society. They work to support programs for the poorest and weakest, as well as continuing to teach in large schools.

AREIA PROVINCE, NORTH BRAZIL

Main apostolates: education and building Christian communities among the very poor. When the Sisters in Germany were forbidden to teach in the schools of Nazi-Germany, a number of them emigrated to Brazil. In 1964 the Areia (A-ray-a) province was split into two because of the great distances between the missions in the north and the south. The Sisters here are known in our congregation for their work in "building Christian communities" among the poorest of the poor in remote areas of the Amazon region.

60 Sisters

CAXIAS PROVINCE, SOUTH BRAZIL

Main apostolates: education, care of the poor. Established as a province in 1956. A large part of the work in this province is now caring for "street children" (pictured at right). More recently, in 1998, a large home for the abandoned elderly was begun. The Caxias (ka-shé-us) Province is located near Rio de Janeiro where extreme wealth and extreme poverty exist side-by-side.

INDIAN PROVINCE, INDIA

Main apostolates: healthcare and education. As the youngest (established, 1999) and most rapidly growing province in our Congregation, this province has the distinction of existing in a society where women are not readily accepted as business leaders or property owners, and where proselytizing is strictly forbidden. The Sisters here serve many Hindu and Moslem families through their apostolic works. Their main way of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ is by their presence and charity.95 Sisters

Known in the U.S. as THE SISTERS OF ST FRANCIS OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY - HIS PROVIDENCE GUIDES US STILL